The gaming regulator for the Netherlands has detailed that it recently ordered a locally-licensed online casino to remove auto-play functionalities from its selection of video slots owing to the fact that all forms of involuntary play are forbidden under the tenets of the small nation’s Remote Gambling Act.

The Kansspelautoriteit watchdog used an official press release to detail that the unnamed operator was investigated following complaints that its portfolio featured at least three video slots where aficionados were allowed to purchase multiple spins that were systematically expended automatically once play kicked off. The regulator pronounced that this state of affairs permitted customers to initiate games ‘again and again’ so long as they continued to hold ‘spin credits.’

Fresh scene:

The Netherlands is home to 17.7 million people and launched a regulated iGaming market in October following many years of consideration and debate. The state-run Kansspelautoriteit proclaimed that the unidentified iGaming operator has now escaped a fine of €300,000 ($325,600) after removing all of its video slots with automatic play functionalities.

Read a statement from the Kansspelautoriteit…

“A player must make a conscious choice for each subsequent game to continue playing. From the point of view of consumer protection and the risks of gambling addiction, forms of automatic play at online gambling machines are prohibited. In this form of play, the player no longer consciously chooses the next game and loses control.”

Compelling contention:

In related news and the Chair for the Kansspelautoriteit, Rene Jansen (pictured), has reportedly described his organization’s approach as highly effective in dissuading unlicensed iGaming operators from attempting to offer their wares to punters in the Netherlands. A source disclosed that the regulator investigated 158 sites over the course of the last few months and found that 142 had implemented procedures to keep Dutch players away from their services.

Desired design:

Jansen reportedly went on to declare that a number of the outstanding 16 probed domains ‘were already off the air for the Netherlands after an order subject to penalty was announced’. He furthermore purportedly asserted that ‘this was exactly the intention of the new law’ and will help the country’s embryonic iGaming industry to ‘push the illegal offer away.’

Jansen reportedly stated…

“With legal providers, the player is assured of a fair game and an attention to preventing gambling addiction.”

Recent ruckus:

Finally, Jansen reportedly divulged that his organization is currently processing 30 local iGaming licence applications following a late surge that was most likely linked to the start from April 1 of the nation’s ‘cooling-off period.’

The statement from Jansen reportedly read…

“There were already 16 applications but in the last week of March 14 more were added. This high number at the end of March is probably related to the end of the leniency period in the context of the Postema parliamentary motion.”